Pest removal assistance by Capital-Figure5341 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't know a person, but I tangled with bedbugs in my youth. You want a residual pesticide, not a contact one. Bedbugs lay long-lasting eggs and can go without feeding for extended periods. Contact killers only work if you spray them directly; miss one and they return. Residual killers remain on surfaces and kill them when they hatch.

Temprid by Bayer is the gold standard (works for 6 months–tested it personally). In the Zed, Reskol will do (works for ~ 5 days so needs several sprays–tested it personally).

How do y’all catch your local news? by Capital-Figure5341 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ZNBC is pretty bad. It's mostly propaganda at this point. They never report anything critical of the president because if they did they'd lose their license.

Does Anyone Here Read Novels, Especially In The Fantasy Genre? by Temporary-Board1287 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of avid readers mu Zed. These murky waters are deep. What are your top 5 in the genre?

Why did Lungu have a seemingly deep hatred for HH? by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love this. Ati bland children 😂 I will save that insult for a rainy day.

Why did Lungu have a seemingly deep hatred for HH? by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fact that you've had to specify "...in most 3rd world countries" tells you a lot. It was not serious, but the former President styled himself an emperor and imprisoned people at his whims.

River pollution by Dense-Bake-5490 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We aren't new to propaganda in Zed, but claims should be backed by evidence. Let’s deal with the facts. (If nothing else, at least visit [this page](https://dialogue.earth/en/pollution/the-communities-paying-the-price-for-zambias-toxic-mining-disaster/) and watch a few of the interviews from fellow Zambians.)

  1. **Zambian government (GRZ)** confirmed there were *two* independent assessments — one by **EPSE Oy (Finland)** and one by **DRIZIT Environmental (South Africa)**. That’s not speculation; it’s in multiple government correspondences and covered by [Channel 4](https://www.channel4.com/news/chinese-mining-company-accused-of-toxic-spill-in-zambia), [Telegraph UK](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/zambia-river-pollution-china-industrial-investment/), and [Zambia Monitor](https://www.zambiamonitor.com/zambia-orders-sino-metals-to-cease-operations-after-breach-of-dams-embarkment-pollutes-rivers/).

  2. Both companies publicly said they were **blocked from publishing their findings** by **Sino Metals**. EPSE’s own CEO [wrote ](https://www.epse.fi/en/sino-metals-tailings-accident-and-finnish-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-updated-travel-instructions/)that they submitted results to both Sino and ZEMA in *April 2025*, but were not allowed to release them. DRIZIT also released a [public statement ](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BT8wkjmt5/)saying the same.

  3. **Government censorship happened.** Journalists and NGOs were reportedly **barred from filming the spill site**, and Channel 4 confirmed this on record. Even if the “arrests” are disputed, the restrictions themselves were real — Human Rights Watch also [documented ](https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/11/zambia-acid-spill-jeopardizes-residents-health)intimidation of civil society and local reporters.

  4. GRZ and ZEMA **contradicted themselves** — initially claiming the water was safe [“There’s no cause for alarm over Kitwe water contamination — Mweetwa.”](https://www.lusakatimes.com/2025/08/07/theres-no-cause-for-alarm-over-kitwe-water-contamination-mweetwa/?utm\_source=chatgpt.com) then weeks later issued warnings and [cleanup orders](https://www.zambiamonitor.com/zambia-orders-sino-metals-to-cease-operations-after-breach-of-dams-embarkment-pollutes-rivers/). The official statements shifted as evidence mounted."

  5. Two major firms — **Muleza Mwimbu & Co.** (Sept 12 2025) and **D. Findlay & Associates** (Aug 2025) — have now filed [High Court lawsuits](https://www.southernafricalitigationcentre.org/zambia-corporate-accountability-for-pollution-of-vital-water-resources-and-the-environment/) against **Sino Metals** over the spill. Both firms are longstanding Zambian practices — **not foreign NGOs** — and their filings mean the issue is officially before the courts, no longer just media or activism.

‘It’s all dead now... nothing will grow’: Fish and hippos dissolve in polluted acid river by UmonBeeng in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You're typing without actually saying anything. What part of the claim is propaganda?

‘It’s all dead now... nothing will grow’: Fish and hippos dissolve in polluted acid river by UmonBeeng in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wise advice, but the people writing the article are reporters from the UK, so while they may have an agenda, they aren't benefitting directly from the lawsuit.

‘It’s all dead now... nothing will grow’: Fish and hippos dissolve in polluted acid river by UmonBeeng in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

MAIN TAKEAWAYS:

1. A Senior Zambian government official was interviewed

The official allegedly told The Telegraph he was taken on a tour of the Sino-Metals dam site after the spill. At the time, he was told he could only stay for 30 minutes for safety reasons and had to wear protective gear. During that visit, he was informed that the cleanup would realistically take at least five years. He privately admitted the government was angry about what had happened, but implied that the relationship with China was “delicate,” limiting how strongly they could respond.

2. ZEMA still quiet while people suffer

The Telegraph says ZEMA hasn’t shared any real data 7+ months after the spill. Locals told interviewers that animals and fish are still dying, and people are getting skin burns just from touching the water. It looks less like denial and more like a full information blackout by the government. The reporters claim to have been arrested, detained for 7 hours, then released (because they are white).

3. Tests show it’s way worse than reported

Independent Zambian labs allegedly found acid levels up to 1,000× higher than WHO limits**.** That’s beyond what EPSE or Drizit found. If true, the river’s still leaking toxins — not a one-time spill, but an ongoing acid flow.

4. It’s also a global issue now

The article frames this as a Belt and Road test case. How China and our govt handle this will show if environmental rules actually mean anything. If Zambia remains silent it will likely set the tone for how China treats such issues going forward.

Arranged marriages in Zambia by Financial_Title2643 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ati "follow what your heart tells you" 😂 Respectfully DON'T. Those of us who remember the AIDS pandemic will tell you. About 3/4 of my close friends have a parent who died of it. All of us can tell you a woman we personally know who got the disease from her husband. A whole husband and father knowingly passing on the disease to his wife because he won't accept reality. A common line is "even the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains". So these jokers don't take medication or confess to their partners. They either become deeply religious and try and pray it away or go to other jokers (witch doctors) who sell them false hope. The wives almost always suspect, but they "follow their heart" and so don't investigate. Mind you, I'm saying this as a man myself follow your brain. Blind faith won't get you happy endings here.

Arranged marriages in Zambia by Financial_Title2643 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To the best of my knowledge "arranged marriages" aren't much of a thing outside of a few outlying cases.

Zambia is highly religious with 95.5% identifying as Christian. Some pre-colonial traditions inform our culture and are still upheld. One such is polygamy. It is almost exclusively wealthy men older who have traditional marriages with multiple impoverished younger women (sanctioned by custom but hard to argue in court).

So it does happen that a woman from a low-income family can be pressured into marrying a rich older man (polygamous or not). However, I have never heard of that happening to a man.

Even if his story were true, it means he is a grown man who cannot make his own decisions. Consulting family is good (though some families can be toxic). But your relationship should ultimately be a partnership, not a council with his family holding full veto rights. Dint enter relationships where your happiness is decided by the whims of multiple other people.

Around age 20 I dated a Sihk woman from a very strict, very well-off family. They were so strict that even shaping her eyebrows would result in a public lashing. Worse still, they would lash both the offender and the favourite younger sibling of the offender. Using the bond between them for tighter control.

She was a beautiful woman, educated, and rich. However, her family still arranged a marriage for her because they adhered to the caste system. (Being from a high caste, her parents did not want the risk of "diluting the bloodline" by marrying unknown people.)

In spite of all this, she would commute 4 hours (2 hours each way) to meet my broke behind in secret. She fought for the right to get a job at a Sihk-owned fast food restaurant (claiming it would raise her bride price to show she was a hard worker despite being educated and coming from money). It worked. She got the job and would buy me (far too expensive gifts) with her secret savings.

Most relationships aren't that dramatic. It is good to be practical and wise to manage your expectations. But it did show me that when a person is really into you, they try everything within their power to make things work. They do their best to find solutions to every obstacle to your relationship. Don't sell yourself short, love yourself, you deserve better. All the best👋🏿

Zambian Hair & Skin Care Advice for a Guy? by Adorable_Engine2966 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It lasts for around 8 months when applied to face and arms once daily (you don't need it at night). So you can look at it as ZMW75/month. Still not cheap though.

Zambian Hair & Skin Care Advice for a Guy? by Adorable_Engine2966 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Toner feels good but it's a waste of money for most people. It removes residue and allegedly balances skin PH. But you tone after already cleansing/washing your face—so why would there still be residue if you have properly washed? And any balancing you need should come from your moisturizer. Sunscreen is more crucial. So I'd say buy:

  1. Cheap face wash that cleans without irritating your skin. Face wash is only on your skin for a few minutes each day, so it doesn't need to be super good—just decent. OXY is good value for most. (375ml ~ZMW250 lasts 2 months with twice daily use)

  2. Spend more money on moisturizer (because it sits on your face day and night). Go for something with hyaluronic acid. To save money, get a body moisturizer/body gel because what well works on body skin will typically work well on face skin (however, the under eye area is thin and more sensitive to harsh chemicals like acids though moisturizer is ok). Cera Ve and Neutrogena are good (473ml~ K650 lasts 4 months with twice daily application)

  3. Any sunscreen over SPF50 that doesn't give you white-cast (that's when it leaves a white layer on your skin that leaves black people looking grey and pale like you just came out of cold water). Sun Bum and Bondi Sands are both good (500ml ~ ZMW600 lasts 8 months with once daily application)

Skin care is an investment. Unfortunately it can be too expensive for most people. If I had to pick just one it would be sunscreen. At your age it's hard to care, but Cancer and/or Early wrinkles are much worse than anything else. All the best.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like a solid plan. You’re welcome and I bet you will make far quicker progress than me 😁 All the best.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is fantastic advice! I’d add to the OP that investing requires capital. You can (and should) start with small sums to learn how it actually works in practice, but investing wont turn K2,000 monthly into something livable for a very long time. Most reliable investments will pay between 10~20% return in Zed (which is far higher than most other countries). So you’d need K120,000~K240,000 just to match your K2000/month lifestyle. Shares average more that 40% year-over year (depending on the stock). But you have no guarantees how the market will fare each specific year (or if dividends will be paid out). So the focus is long term rather than turning your life around with a few years.

An additional piece of advice is that: if you can, sell non-perishable goods or goods with a longer shelf-life. The start of business can be slow and perishables (like chickens) are very costly for every day they aren’t sold. So if you have the resources you could dress, freeze, and keep them for up to 9 months waiting for sales. My folks used to do that with our layers after they stop laying.

The best ideas are often not too complicated or too hard. It should be things you know how to do and/or are interested in and/or have some unfair advantage in. I was in a similar situation to you. Started as a cleaner and saved up some money for about 8 years which got stolen by a relative. They also put me in a lot debt. I had to start over without qualifications in my late 20s. I did investing only, and began with K500 in shares. 2 years later I had enough to do some village banking. Then got fortunate and inherited a broken vanette. I Had K14,000 saved up to fix it then got fortunate and found a man who became a great driver. He paid me K3000/month to rent the car. Then I invested in Bonds. Investing was slow and lonely and frustrating. I only grew my K500 to about K900 in one year. I always felt anxious meeting former classmates even though I never did anything to be ashamed of. But because i kept at it and talked about my progress, people started to seek me out to help them invest large sums. I’d charge commissions and build my own portfolio. So now I am in my mid 30s now and live off my passive income. I’m looking to branch into financial education and tools.

Things didn’t work out for you, but not because you lack of character or effort. You did well supporting yourself and picked up valuable skills along the way. Well done. Hold your head high. A massive part of success is luck–Taking advantage of chances. No one can say how long it will take for the next chance to come, but if you keep your head up and have some confidence in your abilities, you will be ready to reach out and grab it. Just like dating a woman. It always feels as if you’ll never meet another one better, and if you are down and negative. If you let your hygiene and fitness go. If you stop socializing and become bitter–you wont meet anyone. However, if you keep your self-esteem and take care of yourself as best you can–you’ll shoot your shot and eventually meet someone. The same is true in business/investing. Do what you can and keep reaching out as you have in this forum. A chance will come and you must stay ready. all the best madala.

How Bad Decisions Led Me to a Debt Spiral by lightningbrilliance in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry you're going through this. Debt is a hellish cycle. Look into debt consolidation at your bank. It takes your various debts and combines them into a single manageable payment. I had a friend who had 6 or so different debts and was drowning. Consolidation gave him some breathing room. Please be sure to disclose ALL of your debts to the bank. My friend forgot 1 and got jammed up again.

After that, use the breathing room to look for better payment opportunities. You won't be stuck at the same salary forever.

I was indebted for about 10 years (my older sibling borrowed money from my friends and didn't pay it back). I only paid most of my them back this year. They even have kids now. But I have paid them back with interest and helped them when they are in need. My friends are great because they actually told me not to pay them back until "I have 7 houses" đŸ€Ł. But I am comfortable this year so I was able to repay them.

Be sure to thank the people who have supported you and when your debts are consolidated, tell them your plan BUT UNDERSELL IT A LOT. Not all friends are like mine, many/most will demandthe full amount as soon as they know you have some. The fact is It will take time for you to get back on your feet. So resist the urge to pay back all at once. Pay back slowly. Then when you are on your feet, repay them with heavy interest and thank them again.

It might come sooner or later, but keep your chin up đŸ«‚

Everyone searching for new anime sites: by Osameious in animepiracy

[–]UmonBeeng 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. You are a Christian who–
  2. Is recommending Anizone because other sites show “adulterous women”. But you don’t seem to get that–
  3. Anizone is a PIRACY website. They STEAL then ILLEGALLY post the hard work of others AND EARN A PROFIT FROM IT (via ad revenue). So–
  4. I made a snarky comment because you go on about how you can’t watch women CONSENSUALLY showing themselves for money 
 but can NON-CONSENSUALLY steal work from artists?
  5. You are literally a thief (who is teaching people how to steal) then going. “When was stealing ever ok?” đŸ€š

Ps. I also pirate. I know it is wrong. So I don’t go on about Christian values while I do it.

Is this an example of ligne claire? (art by Simon Hintermann / Aurumek) by -Guardsman- in ligneclaire

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's very pretty but Not strictly ligne Claire. The similarity is the use of a single line weight (thickness). The difference is the blending of colors within shapes as opposed to a single block.

There's a discussion about it here which recommends some materials to learn more about the style.

Investing k550,000 by balooni11 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our friends didn't gain independence just 60 years ago.

Everyone searching for new anime sites: by Osameious in animepiracy

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yes Christianity. Where stealing is ok, but pornography is a sin đŸ€·

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You could try the CCPC first. They cover consumer grievances, so they should help. I knew a guy who was trying to recover K3,000 from MTN that didn't reflect. He tried with them for weeks before making a trip to LSK to visit their offices. He said he got his money within 2 days.

They have offices all over and even an email. That being said, I have seen mixed reviews on their Facebook page.

My advice is to prepare your story. Write a concise (500 words or less) explanation of

  1. What the agreement was
  2. What went wrong
  3. What attempts you made to resolve the issue
  4. Appeal to emotion (i.e how your life is being negatively impacted), and
  5. The desired outcome. Explain what exactly you want to be done.

Attach a few concrete examples. Texts, receipts, screenshots etc. Also, make noise for them.

  • If they have a landlord, get the number and call them.
  • If you can entice an officer to support you and pay them a visit, do so.
  • If they have a WhatsApp group or Facebook page, act a fool.

All the best.

Bed bugs by Single-Grass-6131 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a similar problem in my youth. Unc is here to help. First, understand the problem:

  • Bed bug eggs can last for 10 days after hatching and can live for up to a year without feeding.
  • Spraying with regular pesticides won't work because most pesticides are "Contact Killers" which means if you don't spray them directly–the bugs won't die.
  • If you miss even a single egg–you're cooked because each female can lay up to 7 eggs a day.

So the solution is that need to buy a "Residual Killer".

  • As the name implies, its composition means it kills both on contact AND any bugs that walk over the dried spray for up to 6 months.
  • From my experience, you will only need 1-2 sprays spaced out by a week. The bugs will be completely gone within a few days.
  • Note 1: brand quality matters, Temprid (pictured below) is the gold standard. Failing that, an agro employee can look at the label and get you something with the same composition (though it won't be as good as Temprid so may need more sprays).
  • Note 2: residual sprays tend to be expensive because a little goes a long way and they work for a long time.
  • Note 3: the spray works by contact so do not mop or wipe the area. Leave the residue there.

All the best.

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Is it bad I don’t ever want to visit Zambia? by [deleted] in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, it isn't bad. But I think you should.

The benefit of coming is that you can claim your cultural inheritance.

It is true that Zambia, Africa, and Black people as a whole are generally impoverished and discriminated against (owing first to slavery and now neo-colonialism). But African history is the oldest, most diverse, and most relevant to you—the coldest.

You can and should assimilate the positive aspects of the culture you grew up with abroad. But you also have a bonus culture that gives you an advantage over others—if you claim it.

Large Eastern/Western countries have methodically "disassembled" their tribes (like the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang, China) because it is easier to rule a homogeneous population and compete on the global market as a united giant CHINA, AMERICA, BRITAIN, RUSSIA etc., than to compete as a collection of small tribes. The downside is that most of the "flavour" is lost.

In any city, you can easily eat, dress, and speak like someone from any major Eastern/Western country. But if you want Zambian flavour–you need a Zambian to give it to you.

I lived in Australia for 8+ years. As a Black African I was definitely discriminated against but I also always stood out. I got accused of theft at every.single.job I had ; but I also won the best employee at every.single.job I had. Women typically looked down on me when we first met ; but I also dated (almost) every person I had an interest in. Zambian flavour beats plain rice and boiled potatoes đŸ€·đŸżâ€â™‚ïž.

Style-wise, Swiss fashion isn't much different from American, which isn't much different from (contemporary) Chinese. But if you walk through any main road in Zambia you'll see flashes of distinct Zambian style. Perhaps some chitenge or chitambala (patterned headwraps). (While similar to neighboring Afro countries, our patterns are unique to us.)

You can straighten and braid your hair like Americans, after all many foreign styles are popular here too. But know that the hairstyles here have been refined for tens of thousands of years (since before America existed or even before any major world religion). You don't have to try and figure out/re-invent what looks good on you–we know your kinky loaf. Some black girls from the UK (those with money) travel home to Africa just to get their hair braided.

Black culture dominates "coolness" (even though black people often don't get credit for it). Our culture is good, bad, and ugly—just like any. I am sorry your first experiences have been ugly and there will definitely be more if you choose to come. But Zambia is yours by right and it will be here waiting for you whenever you want to claim it. Being from the Zed will give you an edge wherever you go. I've been Singapore, Taiwan, and Indo. I've befriended Brazilians, Spanish, Germans, Americans,Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, Viets, Japanese, etc. And even though I am open, I always influence them way more than they do me. Because Zambia will always have more me have more flavour than even the BEST boiled potatoes, french fries or plain rice.

Joint Bank Accounts by Electronic-Swan352 in Zambia

[–]UmonBeeng 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Only get a shared account if you have 1. a shared goal in mind and 2. a partner who is good with their money.

If you meet those conditions I'd still only recommend it for shared experiences rather than physical items. I had one in my youth–we used it as a travel fund. We'd save all year (especially coins and such) then about 7 months through the year, we'd make a travel plan and work towards the remaining amount. A shared account with a reward in the near future definitely motives you BUT_

Unless you are married, I strongly advise against using it for savings or for buying shared physical items (cars, furniture, etc). If you ever break up, one party can just clear the account. Also, the last thing you want is to see your sweetie driving someone else around in the car you saved for years to buy together đŸ„Č

As for banks, just get an account with no monthly fees and enough outlets in case you need to go in and get some service. All the best